I always knew shoeboxes were special. With their sturdy cardboard, snug-fitting lids, and their not too small, not too large size. Yet, I was always reluctant to save them – for fear of being labeled a hoarder, or accused of bias since I’m in the biz. Finally my instincts have been affirmed. In The Magical Art of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo expounds on the loads of uses for the humble shoebox. In her kitchen, bedroom, hall closets, and drawers -- she has never found any other storage item better than the shoebox. I've "Kondo-ed" (as fans like to say) almost every corner of my house, and have found the shoeboxes to be every bit as useful as she claims. So if you need an excuse to buy more shoes, look no further. The kids boxes are a bit smaller, and perfect for all the same things -- especially storing and organizing kids' underwear and socks.

"[I] have never found any other [storage product] that is free and still surpasses the shoebox. It gets above average marks for all give of my criteria: size, material, durability, ease of use and attractiveness."Marie Kondo, The Magical Art of Tidying Up

Of all clothing and accessory items, footwear stands as the one sure barometer that reveals the weather. I layer tanks beneath sweaters all winter long. I secret "summer" tops under a coat, and dance in them at December parties. But it's impossible to layer shoes. And just plain stupid to wear sandals in the middle of a cold winter. Shoes tell the story. Boots? It's cold. Snow boots? It's snowy. Sandals? They're not on the feet until the frost is gone, and we're ready to expose our toes in delicious, warm weather.

The Children attend day camp from 9am-2pm. Once returned, they're too tired to battle with each other, or to push back on me or my husband. In the afternoon we enter a sand castle building contest and win. The children never fight over the buckets and shovels. I take that back. There are no buckets and shovels.

I've purchased a custom-made bathing suit that fits my proportions perfectly. It has a v-neckline, medium-high leg cut, and a ruched torso with tummy control. It's black. The stretch material has an unlimited lifetime warranty.

VC Signature, $225, NEIMANMARCUS.COM

Robert Clergerie, $575, BLOOMINGDALES.COM

Stuart Weitzman Jean Snake Wedge, $395, NEIMANMARCUS.COM

Beach sand has been genetically modified to resist settling in the crotch of said bathing suit. Furthermore, the sand will not ruin my cell phone when children sneak it out of the zip-lock bag to play Fruit Ninja™. The sand will, on the other hand, temporarily block the camera mode when children try to take pictures of me while I'm sleeping with my mouth open and getting a sunburn.

Swimming with the dolphins costs $10 per child.

Any roller coasters are either broken, or not up and running yet for the season.

After experiencing nature for a few days, all children magically develop a love of vegetables and (non-exploding) fresh fruits. They're heard to say, "Mom, may I please have more broccoli?"

Meals are healthy and organic. Gourmet chocolate ice cream is served after lunch and dinner. I lose weight during the vacation.

The air temperature is 86 degrees. The water temperature is 80 degrees. The margaritas are frozen.

Every morning I take long, vigorous walks on the beach. I watch those little birds peck around, and leave their dainty foot prints in the sand. Every now and then the waves push hard, reminding me that some things are out of my control. I find a perfect conch shell. I take that back. I find a beautiful, broken conch shell.

My rocky relationship with Valentine's Day started in high school, which sponsored a "Carnation Day" fundraiser the week of Valentine's Day. In reality, it was much more than a fundraiser. Carnation Day cemented the social status of the popular and the unpopular, the perfectly preppy and the awkward, the cheerleaders and the not-cheerleaders. For $1.00 per stem, you could buy someone a specially colored carnation that symbolized your feelings about that person. Red, of course, was love. Send pink to someone you secretly admired. Buy white carnations for your friends. A red and white flower communicated your mixed emotions. Sending green meant you were jealous. One year the school even offered black, to send to classmates you hated. You could send the flowers signed, or anonymously. I watched those tall Texas girls navigate the hallways under the weight of their long, straight, blonde hair, further burdened by toting fifty or more red, white and pink carnations. The football jocks juggling bouquets of carnations looked both sweet and ridiculous at the same time. All of it was too much eye candy for this short, kinky-haired brunette to bear.

RED = LOVE

WHITE = FRIENDSHIP

GREEN = JEALOUS

PINK = SECRET ADMIRER

RED & WHITE = MIXED EMOTIONS

BLACK = HATE

The commercialization of love, on one particular day runs counter to what I value.I'm lucky. I know my husband loves me because he offers to get my iPad from downstairs, tells me to relax after dinner -- he’ll do the dishes, and brings me flowers on random days, for no apparent reason.He might buy me something on Valentine’s Day, or not (he can be unpredictable).But I don’t care. What do Valentine's Day carnations have to do with shoes? Well, most days I was wearing this pair of brown leather wooden clogs. No doubt, on Carnation Day I was clomping through the high school corridors calling attention to my carnation-less-ness. Always needing something to distract me from my lack of red, or even white flowers, I distinctly remember wondering how in the world the intricate weaving on the top was created. One look at them now, and I know -- but in 1980 this manufacturing conundrum kept my mind occupied on something much less painful than carnations. So I love clogs. Because of their awesome slip-on convenience, the two inches of subtle height they add to my stature, and that they got me through some tough times during high school. I'm at peace with Valentine's Day, but I still can't shake my hate of carnations.

A Tale of a Sprained Ankle, and a Great Pumpkin Pie

On Thanksgiving morning I needed one more grocery run to get ingredients for our favorite pumpkin pie. I'm in a hurry. I slipped on my snow boots, but didn't zip them up, and rushed out the door. I grabbed the sour cream, ground ginger, and an orchid to bring to our hosts. No line at the register! I put the groceries in my re-usable bag, and balanced the potted flower in the cart. I was out the door in record time. On a roll, I thought, "I'll carry it all." I returned the cart, and shouldered the grocery bag. I cradled the orchid in my other arm, turned, and took a step towards the parking lot. Except that I didn't see the two-inch drop from the sidewalk, edged in a yellow line, to the parking lot pavement. Next thing I knew I was on the ground. Because I hadn't zipped up my boots, that little drop ricocheted my ankle around like a pinball. I lay crouched on the ground, dazed, but knowing from the pain that I was injured beyond a simple twisted ankle. In the E.R. the doctor pronounced it officially a sprain, along with six weeks of healing time that will ruin the first ski vacation I've ever planned. Brushed aluminum crutches (that matched my jewelry) and an air cast (that was thankfully black) became my newest Thanksgiving Day accessories.

Public "Thank You's" go out to:The sympathetic stranger who helped me up and drove me home.My husband, who took me to the E.R., and drove in traffic to and from dinner, because I couldn't.The hospital staff who worked on Thanksgiving day.My kids, who baked the pumpkin pie while I was at the hospital. So fasten your boots, and enjoy our favorite pumpkin pie -- recipe below.

For the CRUST:1. In a food processor grind gingersnaps, pecans, and sugar fine2. Add butter. Blend until combined well.3. Press mixture onto bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch (1-quart) glass pie plate.Bake crust at 350°, in middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden around edge. Cool on rack.

For the FILLING:1. Using a whisk, mix first 6 ingredients in bowl until no lumps remain.2. Blend in pumpkin, whipping cream, sour cream and eggs. Pour into the baked pie crust.BAKE:Bake until filling puffs at edges and center is almost set, about 55 minutes. Cool on rack. Cover; chill until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)

For the GINGER WHIPPED CREAM:In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the cream until it just holds stiff peaks, add the sugar and the ground ginger, and beat the mixture until it holds stiff peaks. Transfer the whipped cream to a serving bowl, and serve as a topper to the pie.

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